I am a proud Scot living in Glasgow, but I am also generally very proud of my Maltese ancestry through my grandfather, born and brought up in St Paul’s Bay.

The courage and steadfastness of the Maltese people through history is well documented, but shame on you, Malta, for allowing the outrageous slaughter of little birds. Whether the perpetrators claim this to be sport, entertainment or tradition, nothing justifies this national disgrace.

I recently visited relatives in the Dingli district and heard what I assumed to be the sound of clay pigeon shooting. If only the targets of these barbaric people were of clay.

I witnessed, sufficiently close up to be intimidating, a gun-toting thug who was drawing pleasure from the needless slaughter of these fine creatures. In no culture, be it a courageous one like the Maltese, or any other, can this ever be ‘legitimised’. It is indefensible.

Again at close hand I was able to see numerous tiny cages where small birds had been trapped, essentially as bait, and the lairs which scar the beautiful countryside – a countryside that belongs to us all and which is not their private property, as these thugs purport.

Please wake up, Malta, and do something before this barbaric behaviour scars the proud reputation of your fine country.

In this sole respect, I am a little ashamed of my Maltese roots. And that’s not something I would ever have imagined.